Undragon Your Life

We were sitting on the couch together this morning - him and I.
We watched this video together - him and I.
We felt inspired and encouraged at the same time, for precisely the same reasons - both him and I.
So we're sharing it cuz ... y'know?... that's just what you do with those you love -  you share it.
                                         **********

Only Jesus can free us from ourselves.
Pastor Jim Burgen tells the story of hearing about a character in the Chronicles of Narnia.

His name was Eustace Clarence Scrubb; his name tells it all.
He was a bratty, jealous kid. In "The Voyage of the Dawn Treader," Eustace belittles and complains about Lucy and Edmund again and again until his monstrous evil character inside starts to show on the outside; he becomes a dragon.
Only Aslan can save.
We are all like Eustace until Christ comes to our rescue.



C.S. Lewis strikes again.
Voyage of the Dawn Treader is...  "awesome, completely life-altering storytelling at its finest".
                                           **********

So we finished watching it, him and I.
And he pulls an old smooth (almost forgotten) 1978 move -
he asks me out to a movie!
I am grinning.   Widely.
Two cozy seats at some Silver City and a jumbo popcorn to share, coming right up!   Happy Eeek.

One day at a time....

My blog is my journal.  A place where I unravel and 'process' - always agonizing overlong on most posts - tweaking, refurbishing and generally driving myself nuts.
My ever cautious Beloved (with the ultra private personality) often wonders aloud what possesses me to disclose so much of myself to just ... anybody.
But I simply replicate the now famous words of my late mother:  that's just the way it is.
Apparently, many of mom's friends were also keenly aware of her decidedly firm state of mind on most issues - and somehow after the funeral, there was this old adage circulating...something about an apple not falling far from its tree.  :)
So if I must, I shall wear that mantle with both pride and humility - if such an oxymoronic style exists.

I hope someday to have my daughter teach me how to convert this blog into a hardcover book, and then snippets of my earthly sojourn will remain on a dusty shelf in our home library for any interested persons of posterity.
The reader will know one thing for sure - for good or for bad, I'm an open book.
My hubby groans reading this over my shoulder.
The reader will know one other thing for sure - the discovery (in the past thirty years) of a divine sense of humour, living with my well/cleverly appointed other half.  I could write a book about that.
Hence the groaning.

So.  The next stage of my journey will be coming to terms of an earthly life without mom nearby.
I thought I'd feel run over by a truck by now.  But no.  I thought maybe I'd just feel empty.  But no.
... At least not yet.
I feel too grateful to God for His overwhelmingly specific and speedy answer to our prayer(s) - for giving us the enormous privilege of waving her off on the riverbank - for bringing Nicole back into her life before having to leave it behind - for the realization of how rich she was in faithful, affirming friendship...

On Sunday, I could re-connect with my own church family - and then ultimate dessert!.... reveling in the company of my preschool peeps over dinner 

and a delightfully squishy viewing of the Curious George Movie on laptop. 

(Laptop just took on a whole new meaning :) 

My conclusion thus far?  It's not a crime against mom to 'enjoy' these first days of mourning.

On the contrary, I will 'credit' her by attempting to adopt her hard-won conviction of Matthew 6:34:

Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.  

Each day has enough trouble of its own. 

Yep.  One day at a time.  

Walk by faith, not sight.

Processing Pain - the lighter side

A True Story...

Three year-old grand-daughter Danielle, 

one of five precious ones 

so precocious...

... so wild in a wonderful kind of way.

She was processing the events of Christmas Day where she roamed among 75 relatives, each coping with the somber reality of having to say a final goodbye to (super) grandma; 

the atmosphere heavy with tears and laughter in constant collision...

She found me at the kitchen table at the end of a day filled with fine food & finer fellowship.  

I hoisted her up to fasten the last few buttons on her coat.  

Out of the blue, she pulled my face close to hers (eyelashes almost touching) and exclaimed 

"Grandma?  We are ALL going to die!"

And then, without skipping a beat, she said -

.... Can I have some chocolate?

*sigh* 

She does an aching heart so much good.

To my Ultimate Family

The great dichotomy of this earthly life.

A journey of pre-determined time - 

filled with both obstacle and opportunity, 

pain (with purpose in it!)

joy mingled with tears, 

Slack-jaw moments of wonder and worry

Panoramic experience so intense - 

it physically hurts...

I'd like to 'present' my Ultimate Family with a prayer penned by Holley Gerth - 

a writer for DaySpring who drops regular doses of inspiration into my inbox.  

May the God of All Wonders gird us up for 2011 

making us willing and able to Worship rightly with ALL our life!  

Prayer for a New Year Posted: 01 Jan 2011 05:33 AM PST Lord, There are many uncertainties in our world but what matters most will never change. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Hebrews 13:8   We believe You are with us, for us, and surrounding us with Your love. So do not fear, for I am with you… I will strengthen you and help you. Isaiah 41:10   No matter what happens, You will guide us and fulfill Your purposes for us. He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until  the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:6   Even in hard times we can be confident that we will have victory through you. In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. Romans 8:37   We trust you will take care of us and bless us in more ways than we can imagine. God will meet all your needs according to the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19   We give each moment and every day to You. Most of all, we give ourselves too. Your Kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Matthew 5:10 Amen.   written with love for you by holley